All Rights to Hiro Mashima

For An Amber Pen, I am overjoyed that you found this story, even if you weren't following it from the very beginning. I hope you keep enjoying all the chapters coming up and let me know what you think. :3

BEWARE! THE BACKSTORY! THE FILLER!

Chapter 30: Obsidian

A natural volcanic glass, this stone awakens the inner warrior and is known as the stone of truth, protection, and grounding; the largest deposits are found in both India and Mexico; used as early mirrors and in some statues and tools, obsidian was widely used to create deadly sharp weaponry like arrowheads, knives, and the blades of many swords.

Laxus lurched forward, ready to stave off the impending shit storm Nova was going to rain down on all their heads. He was truly worried that she would try to kill some of the most resourceful fighters he had ever met, and that would truly be a loss. For the war efforts, that is.

His feelings on the matter were split fifty-fifty, he wanted the bastards to pay in some way for their part in the destruction of Lucy's home. But on the other hand, he knew what it was like to be under the thumb of someone powerful and unable to wiggle out until help came along. For him, his father was a sadistic bastard, implanting his pre-pubescent son with a lacrima filled with potent Dragon Slayer Magic and just hoping for the best. Luckily he had an affinity for lightning before that happened and he didn't die a very painful and gruesome death.

The help came in the form of his surprisingly spry Grandfather. The King banished his son to the ends of Earthland, giving him the moniker of 'traitor' and charged him with treason against the crown. Which it was, if he didn't survive that implantation, then the Crown Prince of Domus would have killed off his only living heir to the throne.

It took a while, and a truly spectacular beat down by Nova for Laxus to open his eyes and let go of his hate and frustration. He had a good family, a roof over his head, and a loving grandparent. At that point, he gained a little sister who he trained within an inch of her life. But she never backed down, never gave in. Not even when she was bruised, bloodied, and covered with electrical burns. Laxus had never met anyone so resilient when he was a stupid brooding teenager.

He remembered one day, almost seven years ago in the heat of summer.

He and Nova were sparring in hand to hand combat, two of her spirits, the Lion and the Sea-goat were circling around and correcting their foot placement and where she held her arms. He had ducked under a jab from her and given a scissor kick to her thigh with more weight behind it than he anticipated. She had blocked with her forearm, but they both distinctly heard her bones crack and splinter.

She had cried out in pain and sent her spirits back so that her energy didn't wane any longer, but even in his stupefied state, he noticed something strange.

Nova didn't cry.

Not once had he never seen her shed tears in either pain or anguish, or even joy. Her face was so blank and stoic half the time…he didn't really know what she was thinking. Only a small quirk of her eyebrows when she found something amusing or when she was concentrating hard were the only facial expressions she allowed to show.

His curiosity knew no bounds apparently. "Why don't you ever cry?"

"…what?"

"I have never seen you cry. Not even when we beat each other senseless in training. I have never seen you shed tears. Or laugh! You have no facial expressions, why?"

She had just looked at him then, cradling her broken arm to her chest.

But her eyes…oh those brown pools of amber gave him all the answers he could ever want. If they were true windows into the soul, then Nova's soul was in absolute chaos.

Anguish.

Fear.

Despair.

Not one good emotion swirled in their depths. "Why do you care Prince Laxus? I am just a girl from a place that no longer exists…"

That was the most he had ever gotten out of her about her homeland before. The King knew her story, as she had told Makarov in confidence when she had arrived with a single sword, twelve gold keys, and a bow in Domus years ago.

He had made the mistake when he was younger, when he was more arrogant and idiotic to make fun of where she came from, to goad her into a more exciting fight.

Laxus felt guilt over that now, years later.

Laxus decided to do something he had never done before and talked to her. Usually, they traded blows instead of words, but he was intrigued by this golden girl. "What do you mean it no longer exists? How is that even possible?" He said it to himself more than to her, but to his surprise, she actually answered him.

"Do you truly want to know?" Either the pain was affecting her judgement or she had been holding this story in way too long. Whatever the case, he wanted to know just who she was.

"Yes."

He had walked her back to the infirmary, Porlyusica had bound her wounds and sent them away.

Lucy had brought him to her room then, sat him down on her bed and told her story.

He learned of her life. Her mother's death and of Natsu, Happy, of their adventures together. Of her father's abandonment and cruel treatment towards her. The training she went through. The sword on her hip and the bow on her back. Her silence towards Jude, to anyone that weren't her two best friends. Then, hearing of their deaths and the resulting despair, her getting stronger.

He learned of where she hailed from and the purging of Astralis, the carnage and death she had seen. He realised that she was the Princess of a place that no longer existed except within her memories. The Kingdom of Stars had fallen, and its citizens almost extinct.

All but one.

Through the story, she had maintained her blank countenance, and when he asked again why she didn't cry or show many emotions, she answered this time in a whisper.

"I can't. I've tried, but there are no tears left to shed. My friends, family, and Kingdom are all dead. I am hollow."

A small piece of Laxus shattered at that sentence. So he bundled her up in his arms and hugged her to him in a crushing embrace.

Lucy had flailed around before her arms had come to sit awkwardly around his waist, tentatively squeezing him back. It was like she had never been hugged before. Even Laxus had been embraced, by his Grandfather and friends.

She had mumbled into his chest then, a heartbreaking statement that made him, the Thunder God tear up slightly. "I haven't had a hug in almost nine years…"

So he hugged her more, leant back on her bed, her head pillowed on his chest.

They didn't say anything more that night, and fell asleep early due to their shared exhaustion, both physically and mentally wiped out.

In the morning, she had given him a small tentative smile and he had vowed to her and to himself that he would be her protector, brother, confidant and friend. She had no family? Then he would be her family. She had no friends? He would be her best friend. He would bother the shit out of her until she felt like she had the best big brother that had ever existed.

And from that point onward, Lucy became Blondie his little sister, and he had become Big Brother more often than not before she had broken out of her shell and tried out 'Thunder Thighs' for the first time.

It wasn't until three years later, on what he would find out at a later date was Natsu's birthday that Lucy would show up in the early morning before the dawn, in his room. She had been shaking from a nightmare of the death of her beloved friend again, but this one hit too close to home apparently.

Lucy had crawled in between him and Freed (she was the only one other than his Grandfather that knew of their relatively new relationship at that point, never judging and always accepting) on his gigantic bed and he wrapped her up with an extra blanket until she had looked like a caterpillar. Freed and she had bonded intellectually through books and her need to discover new information. He had turned into a doting part of their small family, something like an Uncle that always spoiled their niece or nephew, bringing her books and the like so that they could share their love of literature.

She had laid on his chest again, listening to his breathing and heart. He had asked her what was wrong, what she had seen, what had she heard. All she said was "Screams, so much blood Laxus…it was awful…" Lucy had promptly burst into wracking sobs that soaked his sleep shirt through with her tears.

There was nothing he could say, so Freed had held one of her hands as he clutched her quivering form to his chest letting her get six years of pent up emotions out of her. After that point, Nova became even more beautiful in their eyes. Their family watched as she grew up into one of the best Generals who was adept at information extraction that the Domus Army had ever seen.

But more than that…they could see her for what she truly was. She was a Celestial Mage, the wielder of twelve of the most sought after keys in existence, heavenly in her own right. Fair and just, always thinking before she acted. She laughed and sang and danced and talked with all, loving once again with her whole heart. She shed tears in joy and cried in her pain.

Never again did she look hollow.

The best part, even to this day was that blinding smile that some swore was like the sun, bright and warm, given to all without discrimination. Laxus loved her as his kin, just as much as he loved his Grandfather and Freed. He was happy he met her, for she had collapsed the walls around his heart allowing him to give into what he felt for his own chosen.

And in turn, he had healed the wounds of her heart and taught her to cry once again.

Coming back to the present, Laxus had finally reached Nova's side only to end up confused.

While he had thought that she was going to present a large problem to Cobra and his comrades, it turned out that she was the one that was holding back her family. Her broadsword was pointed at both Titania and the Devil Slayer, while her grip on END seemed to be the only thing keeping him back, his Hellfire licking at her limbs harmlessly. All the Slayers behind her were letting their Dragon's run wild and he could feel his beast clawing at the mental chains to be let out and protect her.

Laxus could see beads of sweat running down her face and knew at that moment that she was holding back the spirits that were clamouring to be let out of their gates. Luckily enough, Leo and Virgo were both loyal enough to wait for their key wielder's command, but he could see their hands clenching in the need to wring someone's neck. They had been there at the fall of Astralis.

They had witnessed the genocide, even if it had been behind their gates.

All the magic in the air finally caught Cobra's attention, being the one most sensitive to that type of thing, and it distracted him from the on-going fight he was waging against Jellal. The Blue-haired man's possession in the early years of his life left his soul a bit broken, and it was good for Cobra to not be able to hear his opponent's every move for training purposes of course.

Cobra made the mistake of glancing at the gathered mages watching their fight. He stumbled at what he saw. Jellal took advantage of the opportunity, and activated 'Meteor' spell, giving him the boost he needed to get under Cobra's guard.

One extremely efficient and jarring punch later and Cobra was lying on his back in the mud of the training field, both dazed and extremely confused. It had been a long time since someone had gotten the drop on him like that after all.

Laxus winced and saw many that weren't Slayers copy the action. Apparently, Cobra's jaw breaking had been loud enough so that those without sensitive hearing had heard it as well.

"Virgo, Leo…go back and tell the other's to calm down. I can't keep them back for much longer and I need my energy…"

"But Princess…" Leo tried to reason with his summoner, to no avail. The look she gave him was chilling and both Spirits went back without further comment.

END had snarled at the downed Poison Slayer then, itching to join the fight. The scent of blood from Cobra's split lip had riled his senses up, and he wasn't the only ones. Sting was bouncing on the balls of his feet while Gajeel still had his scales out.

Ryos was wavering between solid and shadow forms, ready to dive into the fray, his normally blank face a mask of fury. It was disconcerting, to say the least.

They had heard of the fall of Astralis from the tidbits that the Black Wizard had let loose over the years. END had informed them of Lucy's heritage when they flew from what was left of the Black Fortress back to Domus only yesterday.

Their Queen was a dying breed, and the six in front of them had helped in slaughtering the masses that had once been her Kingdom. It was a losing battle against their instincts to protect the one their Drake held most dear. Until she spoke that is.

"Enough of this...someone bring me Wendy."

When no one moved to do so, she rounded on her family and barked the order again in a no-nonsense tone she usually only used in the heat of battle. Titania looked on with pride once again. Erza had been the one to teach her the nuances of becoming a highly respected General when they had been promoted years ago, and that sharp tone was Titania's signature move. Usually, it was coupled with a look that could curdle fresh milk, but Lucy hadn't been able to mimic that one quite yet.

She was too kind, too forgiving for her own good.

Jet tore off towards the infirmary, the fastest runner of them all, hell bent on keeping a lid on Nova's more explosive tendencies when she lost control of her emotions. They had all heard the story of when she had beaten Laxus as a young teenager one way or another.

Nova had then given them all scathing looks that immediately sent the Slayers present into pitiful puddles formally known as Dragons. They all looked like scolded puppies, whining to their master for something that they knew was bad but couldn't help but do anyway. It was only through sheer force of will that Laxus didn't try to grovel at her feet as well, but he was very close. The only ones to hear his whine of reticence was his mate, but then, Freed would never make fun of him for that.

The rune mage in question raised a single eyebrow at the sound and Laxus cursed quietly. Of course, Freed would bring this up later. Damn that perceptive man straight to the pits of Tartaros.

END had then lifted his hand and brushed the back of one clawed finger against Lucy's cheek, apparently looking for something on her face. Whether he found it or not was debatable, but the Demon gave a single nod and a tight smile, letting his form go and bringing out Natsu once again. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Their small conversation made no sense to anyone present, but that didn't matter as Jet arrived with Wendy clinging to his back like a monkey.

"Wendy…please come with me."

Able to read the room as it were, and feeling the palpable tension, Wendy gave no objections to her request and followed Nova over to a prone Cobra who looked tense and scared, while Jellal, Mystogan and the rest of the Seis watched with wary eyes.

Laxus inhaled and smiled softly. He knew what she was about to do and felt so foolish in thinking that Lucy would act any way that wasn't who she was. She wasn't vindictive, hell bent on getting revenge for her slaughtered Kingdom.

No…she was Nova, one of the most just General's ever to be seen and gave people as many chances as they needed if she saw the good in them. It was a testament to her strength and not a weakness as some believed.

Lucy bent down and kneeled before Cobra, pulling the Sky Slayer to her side. "Wendy, please heal Cobra's jaw. He must be a lot of pain and we need to speak. I would prefer him to be able to respond when we do."

Cobra was bewildered. All he could hear from her soul was the steady beating of war drums, pacing out a rhythm that was both hypnotic and soothing. There was no bloodlust there, no fear or need for revenge. Just the trilling of a flute that paired with the drums to create something…sad as memories of her long lost Kingdom flew through her mind.

But he watched as the little Slayer healed his aching jaw. Nova neither gave any indication of the turmoil in her soul nor let the memories burden her. She brushed it off as if it were nothing. Cobra's respect for her grew in that instant.

The first question he asked was a silent one. He asked it with the quirk of one eyebrow as Wendy finished up her examination for other injuries (only finding a single sprained finger and some bruising, but she left them because it was an unnecessary waste of her magic, the finger would be fine by tomorrow, the bruises were gone in a week.)

Why did you allow her to heal me?

Her answer was a gracious and blinding smile as well as something that took the Seis all by surprise. If Cobra had listened to the mages from Domus a little harder in that moment, he would have heard no reaction from them, because this was something that Nova was known for.

Forgiveness.

Acceptance.

Understanding.

"You are my comrades, and now my family. Why wouldn't I help you?" Lucy gestured to the crest on his blue uniform. The Domus castle emblazoned in black.

Angel came and kneeled before them, eyes beseeching and tone apologetic. "Nova…I…we all would-"

Nova held up a single gauntleted hand then, stopping the apology before it could begin. "Call me Lucy here in Domus. That is my name. Nova is for the battlefield. And I understand and accept. We have time to exchange stories later, but for now. I would like to know your names if you would allow it."

The others from the Seis gathered around giving their true names once again and having Lucy welcome them officially into their family.

"My name is Erik."

She had whispered his name to herself and nodded once. "That is a good name, Erik. I like it." Her smile had once again been blinding. Unbeknownst to the Seis, she had seen something in their eyes only minutes before, just as she had seen it with END that had changed her opinion in an instant. Before that moment Lucy had wanted retribution, but she recognised that look in their eyes.

She saw determination, massive amounts of guilt…

…and joy.

Joy from being free from oppression, or possibly just from being able to make simple decisions by themselves once again, she didn't know. But she would ask one day.

Erik caught himself off guard by suddenly reaching forward and pulling the Celestial mage into a crushing hug. They heard many growls and exclamations of surprise, as well as gasps from the rest of the Seis.

But they both paid them no mind. He knew this was entirely out of character for himself to do, as physical human contact had been next to none in his life, but this tiny slip of a woman seemed to do something weird to his brain.

His beast inside needed to comfort and protect her, while simultaneously wanting to please Lord END for no apparent reason. Erik decided to ask someone later, perhaps one of the other Slayers what was up with his Slayer magic if time allowed.

"Thank you, Lucy." He had whispered.

"Anytime…Erik. We are family now, are we not?"

He pulled back and readjusted his expression into a sardonic smirk. "Course, Starshine. Just took us a while in getting here."

She liked that nickname just as much as the rest of the ones she had. It was better than Cosplayer at any rate. But 'Luce' and 'Blondie' would always be tied for the top spot in her mind.

"I have many questions, especially about that day. But we can wait until later for that. Alright?"

Cobra sighed as many of the ex-Seis members looked down at the ground either unwilling or unable to meet her gaze. "We know. As soon as we heard your heritage, we knew that there would be questions. We have every intention of telling you of course, on one condition though."

"Oh?"

"You listen to the whole story, from beginning to end before you pass judgement. Also, Titania, Jellal must be there as well. It concerns them too."

Curiosity spilt into Lucy's eyes and she nodded. "I will ask them later of course. But I believe that I can accept those terms, only if END is with us as well."

"Why Lord END?"

She hummed and hawed mentally at whether or not to say why she wanted her Demon beside her. So she went with a half-truth, for now at least. "For support, if nothing else. And call him Natsu when he's in that pink-haired form. Save 'END' for the battlefield."

Erik nodded and thanked the Deities for Lucy's unwavering strength in the face of difficult things. He knew that they had many things to say, but was glad that he could gather his thoughts beforehand. Dealing with people had never been his strong suit – usually, he just killed them – but he would need to work on that side of himself it seemed.

"What are you all called now, instead of the Seis?"

Richard had sidled over, watching the display of familial love before him and basking in the glow. "Crime Sorciere Miss Lucy. We must pay for out transgressions in the past, and this is the right way to start. We must first begin to love again."

A warm hand had gripped hers then and Lucy started in surprise, not noticing when the rest of her family had wandered over. Crime Sorciere started to mingle with the rest, and tentative conversations over magic and trivial things broke out.

Natsu sat beside her and grinned at the newly dubbed Crime Sorciere, understanding their need for redemption. He had a lot to atone for as well.

Lucy smiled at Natsu and pecked him once lightly on the cheek, giving him thanks for his support of her decision. She had been worried when the others hadn't backed down until she had all but yelled at them, but Natsu always knew what was truly in her heart.

She turned back and let a wild smirk light up her features, Erik giving one in response as he heard the war drums in her soul beat faster and the adrenaline of another fight fly through her veins.

"What do you say, Erik? Care to spar? I already have a lineup that has vowed to challenge me, but I think we can fit you in somewhere…"

"I like the way you think…four against four?"

"It's only fair. You choose first."

Erik looked around and found a good option, one who was brimming with energy and pointed at Sting. "The lightbulb."

"FUCK YES! Finally some action!" Sting was glowing, literally.

Nova didn't even have to look to know who her first choice was. "Thunder Thighs."

While Laxus didn't like the fact that he was degraded once again in front of his subordinates, he grinned at the thought of a good fight, standing next to his sister, a triumphant smirk on his face directed at Natsu's disbelieving face. He was tempted to stick his tongue out at the Demon, but deemed it too childish and would give away that he too had a softer side to him.

Natsu squawked indignantly at not being her first choice. "Whatever Luce, didn't want to fight with you anyways…" He turned his nose up into the air, feigning hurt.

"END."

Natsu roared his excitement into the air. "That's what I'm talking about! Let's do this thing Cobra." Glowing red eyes met brown as Natsu took his place beside Cobra, letting his Demon come out and play. He had been itching for a good fight for days. Lucy kept stealing his thunder as it were and he wanted to test his mettle against some of the hard hitters in the Domus Army. "I won't go easy on ya Luce."

Nova only laughed and pointed at her next choice. "Titania."

"A well-made choice Lucy. I will fight with all my strength so that we will be victorious." Erza smiled at her partner. It had been a while since they had fought together, it felt like old times once again.

"Last choice Erik. Make it a good one."

Cobra listened for what he wanted to hear in someone's soul and came to a surprising conclusion. Opening his eyes, he glanced at the person he wanted and they gave a small answering nod and a shy smile. "Sky Maiden." Erik was delighted to hear the tiny Slayer's beast roaring louder in triumphant glee than all the other's put together. Perhaps because her Dragon was a female, it was naturally more vicious, but he thought that maybe it had to do with Wendy's outward appearance. He snorted, the smallest ones always held the most surprises. While the little girl was timid naturally, the beast that rattled against the mental chains in her mind was not.

It seemed that Wendy was just chock full of surprises.

Gasps of shock came from all sides and Lucy contemplated her next choice carefully, somewhat surprised over Wendy joining in the fray. She looked around and landed on one of her best friends who had Happy still clutched in her arms. Lucy raised an eyebrow by Levy shook her head. There were too many heavy hitters in this game for her, she was better at making plans than fighting.

So Lucy moved on and alighted on another member of her family. She smirked. "Freed."

The green haired mage moved forward, but Lucy held up her hand. "I want the Demon please Freed. You know the one I speak of."

Behind his bangs, one eye glowed bright purple as Bickslow cackled from behind them. "Of course Miss Lucy. Absolute Shadow." In his stead, a beast stood, malicious smile intact and ready for action.

END looked ecstatic and wondered how many others could bring out Demon traits, but that was a question for another time.

Lucy called out Virgo who placed the magical bow and River whip into her outstretched hands. Lucy placed them back onto her belt and back, sighing at the familiar presence that soothed her jangled nerves. "Are we ready?"

Cobra smirked. "Bring it on Starshine."

Anyone else a sucker for BROTP CobraXLucy? CAUSE I AMMMMM...